This story is a follow-on from last week’s Friday Fictioneers contribution, Shattered. If you missed it or want a reminder, you can read it by clicking here and then this week’s story will make a lot more sense.
This week’s prompt is a photo by ©John Nixon
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“I saw what you did”
As dawn filtered through the forest Kristina cursed her stupidity.
Her father had come home yesterday evening wearing a black jacket that she had seen somewhere else that day. Was he among the men who murdered the American?
When everyone was asleep she checked his pockets and found the balaclava. He hadn’t even tried to hide it. Maybe he planned on using it again.
Kristina left quietly, walking all night. But now she was lost, and terrified of going back instead of forward.
And because of a note she had written to her father in anger, she could never go back.
siobhanmcnamara 
I guess she burned that bridge pretty effectively, although with a father who carries out assassinations, that might not be such a bad thing. Great story; you fit a lot into a small space.
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Thanks David 🙂
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I love that you were able to continue the story with this week’s prompt. Crossing my fingers for next week!
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Me too!
🙂
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Yay! 😀
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😀
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A lot of story here – quite an achievement in 100 words. Well done.
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Thank you Sandra 🙂
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agree too. heart-breaking all around
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Thank you 🙂
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How sad when you can’t trust your father, except perhaps to trust he’ll do the wrong thing. I agree that you got a lot in here.
janet
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Thank you Janet 🙂
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I’m playing catch-up, so I went back and read last week’s story, too. Very intriguing, very well done and very current. Also speaks to the cowardice involved in hiding their faces or affiliations. Men do dastardly things in the name of principle…but sometimes lack the courage to show their faces and take responsibility for those actions. She was wise to leave, and I hope she is braver than her father.
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Thanks Jan, and thanks for taking the time to go back to last week’s story. What you say is very true – we saw far too much of that here in Ireland in the not-so-distant past
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Dear Siobhan, Great story! Such a dilemma for poor Kristina. She will never be able to get the images out of her mind. Well written! You also punched a lot of information into so few words. Great depiction and imagery! Thanks, Nan 🙂
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Thank you Nan 🙂
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Oh, keep going with this! I’m a sucker for suspense, mystery, intrigue. You really brought it out! Five Gold Stars!
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Thank you! 🙂
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You think you can not go back but a father is blood. You can always go back.
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Thanks Dawn
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It is terrifying when going back is worse than going forward — especially in a forest like this one.
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Thanks Linda, forests are wonderful places but not for the lost or the frightened …
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No way forward no way back.. and she can’t stay.. what a bad place to be..
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Thank you Björn, she is certainly in a bad place right now
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I think Bjorn and David have said everything I would have said. Well done on this piece 🙂
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Thanks Camgal 🙂
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Hi Siobhan, I read this story thinking this is an Irish story and I guess it is? You have written of the girls torment so very well.
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It’s set in the Ukraine, but the situation there has a lot of similarities with Northeren Ireland not so long ago
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Ah of course you have written about the Ukraine of late. You write well Siobhan.
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If I was her I’d run and keep running. Sometimes the unknown is better than the known. Really well done.
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Thanks JackieP
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Dear Siobhán,
What a horrible position for a daughter to be in. You wrote it well.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you Rochelle
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Good continuing story. Well written. I, along with others, I’m sure, will be waiting for the next episode.
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Thank you!
🙂
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A real thriller. Hard to imagine being in Kristina’s situation–nowhere to turn.
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Thank you 🙂
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Wow! Nice continuation! Her own father. Nice job.
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Thank you!
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A very enjoyable read, you packed in so much, well done.
Dee
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Thanks Dee
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Never tip your hand. I hope she finds her way out. Interesting interpretation of the prompt.
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Thank you Sorchia 🙂
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what a terrible situation she finds herself in. at this point, it’s moot which direction she goes. it’s how she deals with it that matters.
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That’s true Plaridel. Thanks for reading 🙂
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Well, I hope Daddy isn’t vindictive. She doesn’t have many options at this point and none of them seem very attractive. It’s going to be a rough road.
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It sure is. Thanks for reading 🙂
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Uh-oh I hope she finds a good place in the world and doesn’t leave one bad situation for a worse one!
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Time will tell …..
Thanks for reading 🙂
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And the intrigue develops. Interesting continuation of last week’s story.
All my best,
MG
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Thank you 🙂
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Nicely done follow-up. Will there be more? And who will play Kristina in the movie?
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Thanks Perry, hopefully there will be more to come. And for the movie … Irish actress Saoirse Ronan?
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You and Sandra’s characters must’ve had the same father? 🙂
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Thanks, who knows? 🙂
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Oh no!Poor Kristina! One feels for her-hopefully she will find her way out of this forest and the mess in her life!Excellent story telling Siobhan-loved it:-)
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Thank you 🙂
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Great start to an adventure. Poor Kristina. I wonder why she didn’t trust her dad. And the wood is full of wolves and wicked witches. Be careful.
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Thanks Patrick 🙂
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Last week’s piece was wonderful, and this week only makes the story more interesting. Looking forward to next week!!
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Thanks Bryan 🙂
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Looking forward to the next part. Am sure it will be just as engrossing …
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Thank you!
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This works, even without the context of the previous story. Brilliant conjuring up of atmosphere.
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Thanks Etienne 🙂
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This works well with the other story but can easily stand alone. Very well done. Lucy
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Thank you Lucy. I hoped it would work as a stand alone story too but I couldn’t really judge objectively.
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